Rusty enjoys walking Old Town. He was over it by the time we left last year but by then we were both a little tired of the repetition. I was looking forward to hitting the road; he had no idea what was coming.
We spent an hour wandering from Caroline Street to Simonton Street and as I encourage Rusty to stop and sniff as he pleases our walks become more like gentle meanders.
I figure the walks are his time so he sets the pace and direction. If a place doesn’t interest him he can let’s me know in no uncertain terms by stopping and staring at me. On the other hand he is polite enough to stop and wait while I make a picture.
We are a team, he sits and I click the shutter. He doesn’t look out over the water, that’s my job and check it out, the little brown dog is turning his back on this splendid view:
It is also time for the powerboat races, this year delayed slightly out of respect for the distant passage of hurricane Nicole.
I’ve told him a hundred times he needs to learn how to ask for phone numbers but as often as he attracts them they end up boring him.
He got fed up with the attention and wriggled away and sat down on his own. I apologized for him then I explained that he does that to me too if I let him too much. I suppose he’s even more shy than am I.
He’s lucky too that I don’t drag him round the waterfront in the heat not stopping to let him sniff and explore at his own pace. So often people get dogs as part of their exercise program. I tell Rusty his walks are his time to use as he pleases.
Visitors to Key West get to use their time as they like, sitting and watching boats or sitting and listening to music at Schooner Wharf.
The thing is they need to change the name of the bar. The Western Union has been replaced by a shrimp boat. A long time ago the entire bight was filled with commercial boats just like this lone survivor now in display.
For less hardcore anglers there are the regular charter boats:
I have come to understand how to approach Key West in my new role as outsider. I am a visitor and once I figured that out I revel in the assignment. The city has lots of plans including hiring a new city manager and revamping Duval Street and fixing up the homeless shelter. None of it is my problem. I’ve heard the city attorney wants the top job. As long as he doesn’t screw up the pension plan he will be someone else’s problem. The newspaper says the mayor is mad at him already. And publicly. Bummer. I went swimming.
It’s a great place yo north, to watch people, to know you are in Key West.
Gary likes to know if the Galleon Resort is still standing. It was the last time I looked. Though Rusty that particular dog, did not feel like walking out to the breakwater in front of the building.
An excellent day to be a tourist in Key West. I enjoyed it.
